Wednesday Morning Commute - urban menace

Includes some lost links from the last two mornings.

• WABA calls on Capital Crescent Trail supporters to demand that in the absence of a trail through the tunnel, there should be "a well-designed, functional, and safe alternative." And that they should not support an at-grade crossing of Connecticut Avenue. Here's one vote for letting the light rail have the tunnel. And Silver Spring Trails points out that it was only recently that MTA, unfortunately, promised to keep the trail in the tunnel. They would have been better off had they continued with their more cautious tone.
• Dr. Gridlock discusses the right hook. I think the cyclist has the right of way, but in that situation, I let the car go first.
• BicycleSpace's soft opening. By the way, they have this cool bike stand with tools chained to it that anyone can use. Something like that, under a covered area, would make a great addition to any bike trail. 
• A green car dealership? "The list included clean, energy-saving touches such as a reflective roof, bike racks, a shower for cyclists..."
• This article about bicycle deliverymen in New York City reminds me of this article. And what's up with New York City banning electric bikes?
• Uh-oh. "Young people who travel to school by independent means (on foot, bicycle, bus or train) are more likely than those who are taken to school by car to stay out at night."

Comments

[charlie]

great article on the delivery men.

I don't see much of that in DC. I do see a lot of scooters delivering food, and like all deliveries they are taking a lot of risks.

The equlivaent in dc may be the pedicabs. They are slow -- no fault of their own. But far slower than other road traffic -- including other bikes.

[Wayne Phyillaier]

Note that "it was only recently" that MTA was less cautious about being able to keep the trail in the tunnel is relative to a 20+ year history of discussing the Purple Line. For most of us, the relatively recent promise is all that we can remember.

[JeffB]

There is a chain pizza place near me that uses small motorbikes for delivery. The city recently installed some bike racks on the corner by the restaurant.

Guess where the motorbikes are now stored 24/7 when not out making deliveries.

[Jim T]

Dr. Gridlock got it wrong. The car is making an illegal right turn from a lane other than the right lane.

[oboe]

"Young people who travel to school by independent means (on foot, bicycle, bus or train) are more likely than those who are taken to school by car to stay out at night."

While may possibly be true, young people who are taken to school by car are more likely to spend their nights huffing airplane glue in their parents' basement.

[washcycle]

Jim T, you're absolutely right, and I didn't make that clear. Thank you.

[washcycle]

oboe, no kid has airplane glue anymore.

[Jim T]

@Washcycle. I submitted a correction to the Post and suggested that an old article by David Alpert is essential reading for people who opine on traffic in DC.

[JeffB]

Re; Albert article,

Thanks for the good reminder on how motorists are supposed to operate with respect to bike lanes.

I'm curious - why is it that most motorists will not enter the bike lane when making a right turn (though the law requires they do so) but will eagerly enter the lane to pass a left turning vehicle (though the law requires they NOT do so).

I'm confused.

[Jack]

Odd word order in the British story. They should word it as "Young people who travel to school by independent means (on foot, bicycle, bus or train) are more likely to stay out at night than those who are taken to school by car." I assume 90% of the students who walk, bike, or take a bus/train are on a school bus. If my parents had driven me to school, I probably would have seen it as quality time and a welcome concern for my well-being. In any case it's a British study... different culture, not necessarily applicable to the U.S.

[charlie]

school buses aren't common in the UK.

@jeffB; excellent question.

[5555624]

There's a chain pizza place near my office which makes deliveries by bike. The downside is he ignores red lights, Stop signs, and a one way street. He makes all their deliverires within a mile or so. (I don't recall ever seeing a car making deliverees for them.)

[JJJJJ]

School buses are an enormous waste. Massive fleets of buses only used twice a day, 9 months of the year? Whhaaaaaaa?

Meanwhile, the transit system struggles to keep enough buses maintained?

[Jim Titus]

@JeffB. Of course I do not really know, but I'll conjecture that most drivers treat the left boudnary of the bike lane as if it was something akin to a double yellow line or fog line. Except for aggressive drivers, people do not drive left of the double yellow line for a turn--they generally wait for the opening at the intersection. Except, that they will cross the double yellow line to pass a stopped garbage truck, etc. Similarly, people do not drive on the shoulder to make a right turn, but they will move to the shoulder to pass an obstruction (though that is illegal). So we have decades of ingrained driving behavior, and then DOT's paintede bike lanes without teaching people how to drive with them.